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The U.S. House of Representatives Communications
and Technology subcommittee had been expected on Dec. 10 to quiz
all five FCC commissioners about so-called net neutrality rules
that would regulate the how Internet service providers (ISPs)
manage web traffic that travels through their networks.
The plans to postpone the hearing were disclosed on Tuesday on
the House Energy and Commerce Committee Twitter account, which
added that the matter "will be top priority in the new
Congress."
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler had hoped to set the new rules before
the end of the year but President Barack Obama stunned the
telecom community last month by urging the agency to reclassify
ISPs to treat them more like public utilities.
Republicans, who will take control of the Senate and extend
their majority in the House after November's midterm elections,
have harshly criticized suggestions to tighten government
regulation of the Web in general, and Obama's proposal in
particular.
A new draft of the FCC's net neutrality rules is likely to be
issued in the first months of 2015, observers say.
An aide to the House committee on Tuesday said the hearing was
delayed because of scheduling-related issues but added that the
later date would allow for a hearing closer to the FCC's
expected decision next year.
(Reporting by Alina Selyukh; Editing by Christian Plumb)
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